Dubai’s newest regulatory transfer offers animoca manufacturers dubai a proper foothold in one of many world’s fastest-growing digital asset hubs.
Animoca Manufacturers secures VASP approval in Dubai
Animoca Manufacturers has obtained a Digital Asset Service Supplier license from Dubai’s Digital Belongings Regulatory Authority (VARA), authorized on February 5, 2026. The authorization lets the Hong Kong-based agency develop its crypto operations throughout the Center East, strengthening its presence in a area racing to draw world digital asset gamers.
The brand new license permits Animoca to supply broker-dealer providers and funding administration tied to digital property in Dubai. Nevertheless, the permission particularly excludes the Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre and is aimed toward institutional and certified buyers, signaling a give attention to skilled market individuals fairly than retail customers.
Furthermore, the VASP license positions the corporate to deepen its relationships with companions throughout the Gulf. By working underneath VARA oversight, Animoca can present regulated entry to its Web3 merchandise whereas responding to rising institutional demand within the area.
Omar Elassar, managing director for the Center East and head of worldwide strategic partnerships at Animoca Manufacturers, stated the license boosts the agency’s capability to interact with Web3 foundations and world institutional buyers inside a clearly outlined regulatory framework. That stated, the transfer additionally underscores Dubai’s ambition to be a number one venue for large-scale digital asset exercise.
VARA, created in March 2022, oversees the supply, use and change of digital property throughout Dubai’s mainland and free zones. Nevertheless, monetary providers within the DIFC stay underneath a separate regulator, which explains why Animoca’s permission carves out that jurisdiction.
Enterprise profile and increasing funding portfolio
Animoca Manufacturers develops blockchain platforms and helps broader Web3 ecosystems by means of infrastructure, content material and capital. Its portfolio options well-known initiatives similar to The Sandbox, Open Campus, Moca Community and Anichess, reflecting a method targeted on gaming, training and decentralized communities.
The corporate maintains an funding portfolio that spans greater than 600 corporations and digital property. This animoca funding portfolio offers the agency broad publicity to rising crypto infrastructure, gaming studios, decentralized finance functions and different early-stage blockchain ventures worldwide.
In January 2026, Animoca acquired Somo, a gaming and digital collectibles firm. The deal added Somo’s playable and tradable collectibles to Animoca’s ecosystem, increasing the vary of digital gadgets that may be built-in into its platforms and associate initiatives.
Furthermore, the acquisition strengthens Animoca’s place within the intersection of interactive leisure and tokenized property. The corporate continues to offer digital asset providers to crypto-native companies and to again new blockchain initiatives that align with its Web3 thesis.
Nasdaq itemizing plans by way of reverse merger
Animoca Manufacturers introduced in 2025 that it plans to go public on the Nasdaq by means of a reverse merger. The transaction will see the agency mix with Currenc Group Inc., a Singapore-based fintech firm that focuses on synthetic intelligence options.
The reverse merger is anticipated to shut in 2026. After completion, present Animoca shareholders are projected to collectively personal roughly 95% of the mixed entity. Nevertheless, ultimate possession ranges will in the end rely upon closing circumstances and any transaction changes.
Keyvan Peymani, chief technique officer at Animoca, detailed the agency’s 2026 roadmap in a latest CNBC interview. He highlighted that the corporate goals to prioritize its stablecoin work and broader initiatives in real-world asset tokenization because it readies for the general public markets.
Furthermore, these capital markets plans align carefully with the animoca manufacturers dubai regulatory push, since a transparent compliance footprint in main jurisdictions usually helps investor confidence forward of a list.
Stablecoin and real-world asset tokenization technique
Animoca’s 2026 priorities place robust emphasis on stablecoin initiatives and tokenization of real-world property. In August 2025, the corporate introduced a Hong Kong three way partnership with Commonplace Chartered and Hong Kong Telecommunications. The partnership goals to use for a stablecoin issuer license within the metropolis.
Nevertheless, the agency’s work doesn’t cease at stable-value tokens. Animoca has additionally partnered with Fosun Wealth and Dangle Feng Expertise on real-world asset tokenization initiatives, reflecting a push to bridge conventional finance and blockchain-based markets by means of tokenized securities and different asset-backed devices.
These initiatives, scheduled to realize momentum by means of 2026, mirror a worldwide pattern the place institutional buyers search on-chain variations of acquainted property. Furthermore, they complement Animoca’s present strengths in gaming and digital collectibles, doubtlessly providing new collateral varieties and yield alternatives throughout its ecosystem.
Regulatory context and Dubai’s position in digital property
Dubai’s regulator continues to refine its crypto framework as extra worldwide gamers enter the market. VARA has granted a sequence of licenses to infrastructure and repair suppliers whereas additionally implementing compliance to keep up market integrity within the emirate.
BitGo, a digital asset infrastructure firm, secured a broker-dealer license from VARA in October 2025. That stated, VARA additionally confirmed a strict enforcement stance in 2025, issuing monetary penalties in opposition to 19 corporations for unlicensed digital asset actions and for breaches of the regulator’s advertising guidelines.
Furthermore, these enforcement actions spotlight that Dubai is in search of a balanced strategy: attracting world crypto companies whereas demanding adherence to clear operational requirements. For Animoca, aligning with these expectations by means of a full VASP authorization may show key to successful institutional belief.
Animoca’s license permits it to function throughout Dubai’s mainland and free zones underneath VARA supervision. Nevertheless, the exclusion of the DIFC retains sure monetary providers underneath a separate regulatory regime, which can form how the corporate buildings its choices regionally.
Outlook for Center East growth
The brand new authorization is anticipated to help Animoca’s continued progress within the Center East. The emirate has positioned itself as a regional hub for digital asset innovation, and main crypto companies more and more view Dubai as a gateway to broader Gulf and North African markets.
Furthermore, as institutional demand for tokenized property, stable-value tokens and Web3 infrastructure rises, Animoca’s mixed give attention to regulated providers, public itemizing plans and real-world asset tokenization may reinforce its aggressive place. The Dubai license subsequently marks each a regulatory milestone and a basis for long-term regional growth.
In abstract, VARA’s approval, ongoing stablecoin and tokenization initiatives, and the deliberate Nasdaq itemizing with Currenc Group Inc. place Animoca Manufacturers on the heart of converging tendencies in digital property, regulation and capital markets heading into 2026.